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Beginner’s Greek by James Collins: Peter, though, is the catalyst for this novel, and his struggle to do the right thing and behave the correct way often gets in the way of his own happiness. When James Collins is moving the novel through Peter’s actions and frustrations, the romantic comedy skips along its merry path. For the most part, Beginner’s Greek is an enjoyable romp of the heart and mind. It’s not completely believable, but that’s not necessary. It’s about love, true love, and how it can overcome all obstacles. That’s what we all want to believe in. Right? Well, at least it’s true in Beginner’s Greek and we should enjoy it while we can.

The Clearing by Tim Gautreaux: The Clearing is a tour de force for a new voice in American literature. Tim Gautreaux has written a novel that not only deals with the big ideas, but also with the little, yet important, things that make up human life. In a story that brims with violence in a world threatening to spin out of control, he has written a love story. Randolph’s love for his brother, and for his wife, is the shining light that leads to deliverance. The Clearing is not a novel you soon forget.

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell: Should you read Cloud Atlas? If you appreciate literary fiction, then this is a novel you should read at least once. Maybe more. It will challenge you, intimidate you, frustrate you, and dare you to think about the important questions it raises. It may not, however, grab you and pull you along with its storylines. That doesn’t necessarily detract from its importance or its brilliance. David Mitchell may be more intelligent than the rest of us, and he has some interesting and important ideas he wants to explore with his readers. Read Cloud Atlas.

The Crazy School by Cornelia Read: Cornelia Read is an exceptional writer. Her mix of characters, both students and staff, all come across as believable with their mixture of defiance, cynicism, hope, and murderous intent. Her dialogue between Madeline and the other characters rings true and carries much of the humor and insights. Madeline’s interaction with her troubled and troublesome students makes you wish she was one of your teachers, and ultimately, the students become the people she can trust the most. You won’t find a suspenseful thriller in The Crazy School, but I get the sense that’s not the main purpose of the novel. Like most successful mystery novels, the characters and their drama carry the story, and Cornelia Read gives us the entertaining gift of Madeline Dare. The Crazy School is a wonderful novel and I’m eager to read whatever Cornelia Read has to offer next.

Bangkok 8 by John Burdett: John Burdett has perfectly captured a sense of place that is so ultimately foreign to most of us and made it seem familiar. Even his mixture of different ethnicities, Thai, Khmer, Karen, Lao, Chinese, Russian, Burmese, and Siberian, gives this novel a feeling of the larger world outside the U.S. that we consistently ignore. Sonchai Jitpleecheep is our travel guide, daring us to think differently and inviting us to enjoy his home. Feel free to lose yourself within Bangkok 8 and enjoy your visit abroad. It’s time well-spent. Bangkok 8 is one of those novels you finish with a smile on your face and warmth in your heart for a story, and a place, that is well told and satisfying.

The Book of Air and Shadows by Michael Gruber: The Book of Air and Shadows never seems to take itself too seriously, which adds to its enjoyment. Michael Gruber has delivered a novel where he hides universal truths among the treasure hunt. The result is much more fun than the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Perhaps that’s his next novel.

The Book of Illusions by Paul Auster: This is not a “feel good” book and it’s not a story that will keep you turning pages to see what happens next. If you want a book to challenge your thoughts and emotions and perspective on life, then I can recommend it highly. Just don’t think you’ll put it down with a satisfied smile on your face.

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay: Ultimately, this is a novel that has more going for it than against it. Dexter is an enjoyable sociopath and the mystery he must solve is a complex and interesting one. Darkly Dreaming Dexter never loses its pace or suspense and contains enough humor and insights to be an engaging novel. Each reader should decide beforehand whether the reservations I’ve mentioned above would detract from their enjoyment of Jeff Lindsay’s mystery, because he’s now working on his second Dexter book.

Annette Lybacki hopes that you found this piece helpful and invites you to read her articles on Annuity Loans 101 for some Hints and Tips on Annuity Loans.

The Ha-Ha by Dave King: Dave King avoids easy answers and neat resolutions to Howard’s dilemma. Howard knows that eventually Sylvia will come home and Ryan will leave his house. He’s afraid that his life will revert to the way it was before Ryan came, and now that he’s had a taste of something better, he can’t go back to that again. He also doesn’t know if there’s anything he can do about it.

December 6 by Martin Cruz Smith: December 6 is a novel that succeeds on many levels. It’s an education into the mindset and culture of pre-war Japan. It’s an indictment of those beating the drums of war behind their own self-righteousness. Best of all, it’s a great story, and the description of Harry’s predicament is peeled back layer by layer, and by the end we’ve come to understand and sympathize with him completely. There’s a bit of Harry in all of us, trying to do the right thing while taking advantage of the situation at the same time.

The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch: The Highest Tide is a short book, less than 250 pages, and can be read in one afternoon. Jim Lynch’s debut novel spends a wonderful summer with Miles O’Malley and the interesting and peculiar life that abounds in Puget Sound. Take an afternoon and enjoy it for yourself.

His Illegal Self by Peter Carey: His Illegal Self is not an easy story to read, and it’s tedious at times waiting for any sense of hope to come to its characters’ lives. It’s the characters that are the highlight of this novel, though, and Peter Carey’s expert handling of their relationships and emotions that binds it all together in a flurry of emotions that buffets the reader as well.

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris: It’s sentences like that grab your attention with his off-kilter way of telling about his life that makes you want to find out what it’s all about. Fortunately, David Sedaris continues to deliver on the promise with more interesting, funny, and thought-provoking parts of his life. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim is a welcome addition to his private literary genre and a gift to the world that can always use more laughter. My time spent with David Sedaris passed too quickly, but this is a book that can be read again when a dose of laughter is needed. If you haven’t read any of his work before, this is a fine place to start. If you’re a fan of David Sedaris, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim is one you must read.

Ironfire by David Ball: In Ironfire, David Ball has given us a prime example of exemplary historical fiction. Not only is it a realistic depiction of a faraway time and place, but he’s populated his story with interesting and believable characters and keeps the suspense ratcheted in top gear all the way. Ironfire allows a peek into different worlds that coexisted at the same time with the hatred and fanaticism that rings true to this day. It’s easy to divide the world into good and evil and be appalled at the actions of those opposed to one’s religion or way of life. Part of what David Ball has presented with this novel is the perspective from both sides that considers the other to be evil, and the justifications of their actions as being God’s or Allah’s way. In that sense, Ironfire also succeeds as precautionary tale for today with hope that we all learn from the lessons of history so that we don’t repeat the same mistakes.

Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips: Despite a few bumps along the way and some mean, pernicious behavior of the gods, Gods Behaving Badly eventually rescues itself from the traps it must avoid. When it tends to get repetitious or too over the top, Marie Phillips guides it back to a scene or setting that highlights human foibles or insights, and the novel is back on the road to being an entertaining read. Once Neil and Alice are confident enough to take over the novel, it glides full of humor to its immortal conclusion. Gods Behaving Badly is an original concept wrapped around a familiar theme, and the combination of the unique setting, absurd and lecherous as it is, with a sweet love story makes it a successful debut novel for Marie Phillips. While you can’t necessarily count on the gods to do the right thing, reading Gods Behaving Badly is a safe bet for any reader.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer: If you only read perfect novels, then there would be very few books to read at all. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close can be uplifting and soul searing at different times. With the horrors and wounds of the 9/11 attacks still fresh, this novel may hit too close to home for some people. By the end of this book, how that awful day happened for all members of Oskar’s family is known, and beyond the pain lies hope, and Oskar is not as alone as he thinks he is. Oskar Schell’s story is one to cherish, and perhaps that metaphor for the lost innocence of the world is one we all ought to acknowledge and embrace.

Annette Lybacki hopes that you found this piece helpful and invites you to read her articles on DUI Lawyer 101 for some Hints and Tips on DUI Lawyers.